If the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that “home sweet home” made for a great workplace too. Many of those relegated to home offices when corporate locations shut down in 2020 found that working remotely promoted a better work-life balance; simplified things when a child had to stay home sick; and involved no commute time, among other pluses.

But the push is really on to get more employees back into office buildings. Among Fortune 100 companies, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and HCA Healthcare expect workers in the office 5 days a week. And just this month, Amazon and Dell Technologies began requiring employees to report to the office three times a week. Come July, AT&T also expects its workers to be onsite a minimum of three days weekly.

Whether a company wants its workforce onsite full-time or permits some hybrid version of onsite and remote work, employers have learned that if they want – and expect – folks to return to offices, they’ve got to make them more enticing than home. An effective way of doing so is with amenities.

When it comes to adding or enhancing amenities in a workplace environment, JLL advises focusing on features that “entice and engage.” More specifically, the commercial real estate services company encourages property managers looking to attract tenants and bring more bodies into their buildings to put energy and dollars toward:

• health and wellness initiatives;
• hospitality services; and
• outdoor spaces.

Health and Wellness Initiatives

After the trauma of the pandemic, today’s employees need workplaces that make it easier – not harder – to prioritize their health and wellbeing. To answer this call, tenants and employers should look at bringing in amenities and services that support physical and mental health.

Many workers struggle to find the time or energy to incorporate healthy lifestyle habits like exercise into their weekly routine. But with a gym, personal training studio or meditation room located onsite, it’s easier for workers to fit health and fitness into their daily or weekly routines.

Other health and wellness offerings to consider bringing into the office setting include nutrition counseling, stress management services, sleep workshops, health challenges, yoga and other group fitness classes, wearables and onsite clinics.

A healthy workforce is crucial to your company’s performance. And with more than 25 years of experience designing, developing and managing health and wellness solutions for workplaces and mixed-use developments, Aquila is an expert at pinpointing which services and amenities can get your company the best return on investment. Inquire with us about how to proceed in this arena.

Hospitality Services

In an effort to rival or even surpass the comforts of home, workplaces need hospitality-inspired spaces and amenities. These could include food and beverage offerings that go beyond the vending machine or sterile cafeteria. Barista services, cozy cafes, juice bars, and lounges with access to cocktail bars, games and comfy seating are popping up in many office buildings as a way to introduce more healthy or varied selections to the workplace.

Another way of bringing more creature comforts into these spaces is with offerings that make daily tasks more convenient. Contract with a dry cleaner to give employees easy access to this service. Or if many of your tenants drive electric vehicles, perhaps it’s time to install charging stations in your parking facility.

Some property managers are even making work environments more social by hosting unique experiences like concerts, art installations and happy hours in their common spaces or lobbies.

Outdoor Spaces

While working from home, many people grew accustomed to having easy access to fresh air and walking breaks. And research shows that spending time outdoors can improve moods, concentration and health. In that vein, property managers may find it beneficial to invest in their outdoor spaces and exterior surroundings. Consider starting a community garden onsite, or beefing up green spaces and rooftops so workers can escape their tight quarters or even conduct meetings in the sunshine.

Another popular feature: walking paths. If your property has the space to devote to this purpose, it’s a big selling point for tenants who can take advantage of the resource before, during and after work hours.

Ready To Get To Work?

Drawing more workers back into the office requires some thoughtful planning as well as some significant research. It’s crucial to know your audience’s needs and preferences. Additionally, it’s prudent to consider the area’s surroundings and what might be missing yet easy to incorporate within your setting.

Curious about the services and amenities we offer that could effectively lure people back into your own building or office park? Let’s talk.